Frequently Asked Questions.
Do I need to have drawing skills?
You don’t need drawing skills. Crayons are used in Interactive Drawing Therapy for recording words and images in your unique way.
Do I need to be artistic or creative?
Artistic and creative skills aren’t necessary for exploring your thoughts and unique mark-making on a paper page. Simple craft skills may be used such as gluing, tearing and cutting.
Art has a long tradition of including “found” or “readymade” objects as much as it has painting or sculpture traditions. Creating patterns with children’s puzzles is equally ‘therapeutic art’ as is easel painting. You may identify as being a creative person or as someone who just has a curiosity about art. If you have an inkling for exploring the material world with somatic and environmental awareness, then art ‘just happens’ along the way. In therapeutic arts practice, you get out of your own way and blocks such as “I can’t do art” become a part of the process.
Is 50 minutes long enough for IDT?
Yes. IDT efficiently and effectively captures right and left brain processes on the page through words, simple images, and feelings. The page as a mirror yields insights into self-perception and topical issues through personal symbols and metaphors.
Does therapeutic art mean I have to make something?
Hands on Holistic holds a broad understanding of “art” that incorporates the material environment in subtle and meaningful ways to support your unfolding wisdom and insights through “not just words” or “talk therapy”. We value the insights, wellbeing, and mental health benefits of setting time aside for deep-diving into emergent multi-modal processes. For example, being in nature is one way of supporting your active reflection, which involves a multi-sensory, embodied, and creative journey.
What is the difference between therapeutic arts and holistic counselling & psychotherapy?
In Therapeutic art, you would expect to create art-like expressions through various art media and natural elements to reflect your inner states and observations. Multi-modality is at the forefront of the session.
Holistic Counselling -Psychotherapy uses an experiential approach that may include talking and deep listening, empathy, mindfulness, and whole-person wisdom. Art and nature may also form part of the journey.
Is counselling-psychotherapy the same as psychology?
No. The Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA) provides full definitions of both Counselling and Psychotherapy - see Resources tab on the Home Page.. Counselling offers a person-centred, non-diagnostic and holistic service that supports your personal autonomy, expands self-awareness, your sense of hope and purpose in life (PACFA)
Is this a counselling-psychotherapy service?
Yes. I am a PACFA Certified Practising Counsellor (Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia). All services are grounded in person-centred counselling (Rogers) and holistic process-oriented psychology (Mindell) or Creative Experiential processes.. My background in Visual Arts and ongoing continuing education in Therapeutic Art practice create my blended approach for exploring body, soul, heart, and mind for your mental well-being and healing. At this stage, I don’t offer Private Health Rebates but aim to in the future.
What are the benefits of choosing a 12-session over a season, 1/2 year or full year?
A seasonal or calendar year commitment to your therapeutic journey supports the integration of new insights into your daily life in a sustained and ever-evolving way. In a collaborative relationship with your therapist, you are invited to regularly practice holistic presence in body, heart, mind and environment with increasing awareness and self-awareness. Usual initial session applies to determine your individual preference and needs. Nothing is ever binding and you may cancel anytime. You are also welcome to space your sessions fortnightly or monthly over all four seasons (one ninety minute session once a fortnight or month) wholly depending on your circumstances and personal journey. You save approximately 15% on a 90-minute session on a 12 sessions package. No contracts, non-binding and cancel anytime as per ethical counselling practice.
Why would I choose a 12-session programme over hourly sessions?
The process of unfolding experience over time as a daily and week-to-week personal commitment and practice needs time to nurture, ‘return to’ and evolve states of being, mindsets, chance encounters, synchronistic events and your dream life. Regular sessions follow emergent energy and dreambody processes (Mindell) in the moment for an immersive, creative and therapeutic experience.
You will develop experiential and creative skills for being with day-to-day challenges. You save approximately 15% on a 90-minute session on a 12 sessions package. No contracts, non-binding and cancel anytime as per ethical counselling practice.
What is Creative and Experiential Therapy?
“Creative and experiential therapists specialise in therapeutic approaches such as the arts, play, embodied/somatic, and nature-based methods. They are unified by the use of more-than-verbal methods in therapy”. (PACFA, 2025). My training as Holistic Counsellor (somatic, nature, imaginative consciousness & creative processes) and Psychotherapist; current training in Art Therapy towards PACFA CCET membership, as well as undergraduate study as Artist and current Art Teacher inform my current art therapy practice.to a Professional standart in my role as Counsellor (PACFA).